TY - JOUR
T1 - The forgotten and the future
T2 - Reclaiming back alleys for a sustainable city
AU - Wolch, Jennifer
AU - Newell, Josh
AU - Seymour, Mona
AU - Huang, Hilary Bradbury
AU - Reynolds, Kim
AU - Mapes, Jennifer
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2011 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Alleys are enigmatic, neglected features of the urban fabric. In this paper we explore the distribution, physical features, activity patterns, and resident perceptions of alleys in one major US city, Los Angeles, California. We do so through an integrated mixed-methods strategy involving participatory research with community-based organizations, spatial analysis, physical audits and behavioral observation of alleys, and focus groups. Results show that most alleys in Los Angeles are underutilized and walkable, quiet, and clean, although they can be, and are often perceived as, dirty and unsafe. Alley density is greatest in park-poor, low-income Latino and African-American neighborhoods. Alleys represent unrealized community assets that could be transformed by urban planners and managers into 'green infrastructure' to simultaneously offer multiple ecological, economic, and social benefits-including urban walkability and mobility, play space and green cover, biodiversity conservation, and urban runoff infiltration-and thereby to contribute to a more sustainable urbanism.
AB - Alleys are enigmatic, neglected features of the urban fabric. In this paper we explore the distribution, physical features, activity patterns, and resident perceptions of alleys in one major US city, Los Angeles, California. We do so through an integrated mixed-methods strategy involving participatory research with community-based organizations, spatial analysis, physical audits and behavioral observation of alleys, and focus groups. Results show that most alleys in Los Angeles are underutilized and walkable, quiet, and clean, although they can be, and are often perceived as, dirty and unsafe. Alley density is greatest in park-poor, low-income Latino and African-American neighborhoods. Alleys represent unrealized community assets that could be transformed by urban planners and managers into 'green infrastructure' to simultaneously offer multiple ecological, economic, and social benefits-including urban walkability and mobility, play space and green cover, biodiversity conservation, and urban runoff infiltration-and thereby to contribute to a more sustainable urbanism.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78650371596&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78650371596&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1068/a42259
DO - 10.1068/a42259
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:78650371596
VL - 42
SP - 2874
EP - 2896
JO - Environment and Planning A
JF - Environment and Planning A
SN - 0308-518X
IS - 12
ER -